Football (Soccer)

[Iceman]

If Utd can’t get a result at home against Southampton they might be back to square one after the last couple of games offered up some hope.

 

[Zantera]

Thank god for Amad! 2 goals and now it's 2-1!

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Hat trick. Amad's refusal to give up pays off. Need more like him.

 

[Iceman]

Diallo, wow, just caught up!!

 

[BlackFox]

Amad, easily our player of the season digs us out of a massive whole and got a hat-trick that he is well worthy of, even if wasnt actually deserved by the team after an awful display for 82 minutes. Southampton really deserved at least a point but Amad is the only player who really showed any real quality for us and kept on going all tonight and it paid off for him in the end with the odd bit of luck as well but he has been the only bright spark in a dismal season.

Everything else was pretty woeful tonight and looked tired and laboured. You could argue the last two games have taken it out of us but its not like thats the first time we have played like it. Need to improve in most areas still but 3 points is sorely needed and we got there, just, thanks to Amad.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Amad, easily our player of the season digs us out of a massive whole and got a hat-trick that he is well worthy of, even if wasnt actually deserved by the team after an awful display for 82 minutes. Southampton really deserved at least a point but Amad is the only player who really showed any real quality for us and kept on going all tonight and it paid off for him in the end with the odd bit of luck as well but he has been the only bright spark in a dismal season.

Everything else was pretty woeful tonight and looked tired and laboured. You could argue the last two games have taken it out of us but its not like thats the first time we have played like it. Need to improve in most areas still but 3 points is sorely needed and we got there, just, thanks to Amad.

Honestly didn't think we were awful in the first half. We don't know how to break down teams, but could've scored at least a couple in the first half. Probably should of had a least one plus a pen.

The issue is the team does that in spurts. So either they have a decent first half or a second. No in between, unless it's a team they can sit back against.

 

[B]

Rough one last night, but a win is a win.. and much needed, a lose would have put us right back to square one after our recent improvements against Liverpool & Arsenal.

Amad, what a lad, ten Hag must be kicking himself that he didn't play him more often because he would probably still be in the job if he had.
Onana credit were it's due, made a couple of massive saves when the game was at 0-0, otherwise we could well have found ourselves going in at half-time 2 or 3 goals behind.
Zirkzee also deserves a shout because he did well when he came on, seemed to provide a bit more composure & control of the ball in better areas of the pitch for us. Think he came on for Hojlund who'd done alright, can never fault his effort. I gather he's getting frustrated at not being delivered the ball with more consistency, gave Garnacho & a few ugly stares last night.

It's not like we didn't have chances even when it was 0-0 or 1-0 ourselves. Garnacho missed a couple, Fernandes & of course Antony, all good chances as well as a few other half. All in all it's our poor finishing & decision making in the final third that constantly leads us into these struggles.

Sulemana gave Yoro an absolutely dreadful time, Yoro isn't a slow player by any means, but Sulemana has absolutely electric dribbling, pace & acceleration. If Southampton go down, and we manage to stay up, I'd see if we could nab him for a reasonable fee. Having that level of speed & acceleration to call upon either as a starter or from the bench is always useful, same age as Amad as well so obviously still room to improve.

 

[Hunter Rider]

Haaland has signed a 9½ year contract at City

 

[Hunter Rider]

Honestly didn't think we were awful in the first half. We don't know how to break down teams, but could've scored at least a couple in the first half. Probably should of had a least one plus a pen.

The issue is the team does that in spurts. So either they have a decent first half or a second. No in between, unless it's a team they can sit back against.

Rough one last night, but a win is a win.. and much needed, a lose would have put us right back to square one after our recent improvements against Liverpool & Arsenal.

Amad, what a lad, ten Hag must be kicking himself that he didn't play him more often because he would probably still be in the job if he had.
Onana credit were it's due, made a couple of massive saves when the game was at 0-0, otherwise we could well have found ourselves going in at half-time 2 or 3 goals behind.
Zirkzee also deserves a shout because he did well when he came on, seemed to provide a bit more composure & control of the ball in better areas of the pitch for us. Think he came on for Hojlund who'd done alright, can never fault his effort. I gather he's getting frustrated at not being delivered the ball with more consistency, gave Garnacho & a few ugly stares last night.

It's not like we didn't have chances even when it was 0-0 or 1-0 ourselves. Garnacho missed a couple, Fernandes & of course Antony, all good chances as well as a few other half. All in all it's our poor finishing & decision making in the final third that constantly leads us into these struggles.

Sulemana gave Yoro an absolutely dreadful time, Yoro isn't a slow player by any means, but Sulemana has absolutely electric dribbling, pace & acceleration. If Southampton go down, and we manage to stay up, I'd see if we could nab him for a reasonable fee. Having that level of speed & acceleration to call upon either as a starter or from the bench is always useful, same age as Amad as well so obviously still room to improve.

Amorin said last nights game will tell him more about the players than the previous 2 games, and he was right. This wasn't an effort issue, it was exposing the lack of quality when we need to be on the front foot.

We desperately need attacking wingbacks, especially on the left side, Amad had to play deep to keep our shape as Mazraoui doesn't push up because he's not got the speed to get back, so it limited our attacking outlets going forward, this improved when Zirkzee came on as his hold-up play was excellent where as Hojlund struggled. Regardless wingbacks are needed ASAP.

The other issue Is we need a central CB who can bring the ball out in this system, De Ligt is a good defender and has played well at RCB, but he's not a progressive passer and doesn't carry the ball out, so it means the whole team drops deep to receive and keep shape instead of pushing forward and keeping teams pinned back.

Obviously we need a couple of quality forwards added but systemically I think those positions are what should be the priority to elevate the overall team.

 

[blueharvest]

Haaland has signed a 9½ year contract at City

That's an absurdly long contract. I thought the rumor was that he was going to leave for Madrid at some point?

 

[Zantera]

First half I thought Southampton could have been up like 3-0. They were pressing us back into our own penalty box for long stretches and the only really good chance we had that I remember is when Hojlund passed it to Garnacho and he missed the goal. Happy we turned it around in the end but it shouldn't have to be that hard. I still saw people on reddit saying "we need signings" and while I agree, I still think what we have should be able to beat what Southampton has comfortably.

But it's just a different game entirely to play 'weaker' teams when you are expected to play football and create tons of chances, compared to sitting back against Liverpool or Arsenal. I miss the days when we could beat these teams 3-0 and never look in danger. Now even the weakest teams seem to give us a fight.

 

[BlackFox]

Honestly didn't think we were awful in the first half. We don't know how to break down teams, but could've scored at least a couple in the first half. Probably should of had a least one plus a pen.

The issue is the team does that in spurts. So either they have a decent first half or a second. No in between, unless it's a team they can sit back against.

Our finishing is poor but we seem to either create nothing and hold on in games or create chances, not take them, but gift the opponents plenty of chances, we cant seem to control a game ourselves and dominate a team. No doubt that is why we are where we are this season but we seem to have one or the other, Amorim needs to find the key to being able to create plenty without leaving the back door so wide open, a problem that ETH could never fix, or any other managers to be fair.

We are very much a team that plays in parts or spurts, if we started the game like the last ten minutes we probably beat Southampton in the first half and make life much easier for us.

I guess it will take a few windows for anything, if anything, is to change. Doesnt seem a lot is happening this Jan for us on that front. Very quiet.

 

[blueharvest]

 

[Iceman]

Bournemouth take the lead clinically and early. Hope we can come back.

 

[BlackFox]

1-2 Bournemouth at the moment, just had a third disallowed as well. Bournemouth really are a tough side to play against these days, sort of what Southampton used to be.

 

[BlackFox]

1-3 Kluivert hatrrick and what a third to get it, smashed it from range. Bournemouth with outstanding performance at Newcastle today.

 

[BlackFox]

1-4 Bournemouth, wow what a result this is. Newcastle blown away at home.

 

[Iceman]

1-4 Bournemouth, wow what a result this is. Newcastle blown away at home.

Bournemouth are a bogey team for Howe with his background there. I think he has drawn all and lost 1 against them. Still, didn’t expect to get tonked 4-1 at home after such a long run of consecutive wins.

 

[BlackFox]

Bournemouth are a bogey team for Howe with his background there. I think he has drawn all and lost 1 against them. Still, didn’t expect to get tonked 4-1 at home after such a long run of consecutive wins.

I was expecting a few goals in this one but not such a one sided affair and especially to Bournemouth, they just go quietly about their business and play some really nice stuff at times. Wish we were as clinical as them with chances as well.

 

[Iceman]

I was expecting a few goals in this one but not such a one sided affair and especially to Bournemouth, they just go quietly about their business and play some really nice stuff at times. Wish we were as clinical as them with chances as well.

Looks like Bournemouth could also push for the Euro places and even top 4 along with Forest. They certainly have something about them. Could be an interesting lineup of teams in the end with Spurs and Utd well behind.

 

[Iceman]

Villa equalise against Arsenal having been 2 goals down.

 

[Zantera]

Brighton at home today. I want to believe we can (and should) beat them but they're a tricky team and we struggled against Southampton just a few days ago. Feels like one of these days you get your hopes up only to end up disappointed later when Brighton end up with the 3 points. But I hope to see some improvement and hopefully points.

 

[blueharvest]

 

[BlackFox]

United 1-2 down to Brighton at home, they are the definition of a bogey side for us, cant seem to ever figure them out.

 

[BlackFox]

1-3 Onana with another clanger, lost count of his since he joined.